Which pack works best for you?

Study groups sharing a pack

A large, pre-sliced pack makes it easy to hand out slices during a break. Work out how many people will be eating beforehand, and whether the pack needs to last for more than one session.

Shoppers stocking up for several breaks

Check the net weight and type of packaging. A large cake and a box of individually wrapped portions can both be convenient, but they serve different purposes.

Shoppers who check the label

If you want to take wholemeal ingredients, sugars, fibre or allergens into account, compare the nutritional information and ingredients of the exact product. This is especially important when sharing the breakfast cake with others.

What should you look for when choosing?

First decide whether everyone will eat from the same pack or take their own portions. Then compare the size and labelling of packs that suit how you plan to use them.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this most important to?
Easy to share Check whether the cake is sliced and how much the pack contains. If everyone wants a slice during a break, I don’t want to have to cut it first. For around 36% of consumers, ease of sharing comes first.
Stocking up Compare the net weight and check whether you’re buying one large pack or individual portions. For several study breaks, I want to know how much breakfast cake I’ll have at home. Around 29% of consumers give this quantity the highest priority.
Ingredients Check the nutritional information for sugars and fibre per 100 g, and read the ingredients too. I want to be able to consider wholemeal or zero options without relying on the variant name alone. Ingredients are the main consideration for around 21% of consumers.
Allergens Check both the ingredients and the ‘contains’ and ‘may contain’ statements on the exact pack. If someone in the group needs to avoid certain ingredients, I want to know what’s in the pack before sharing it. For around 14% of consumers, this is their first concern.

Common mistakes

  • Mistaking a box of portions for a large sharing pack

    A box of individually wrapped slices can be handy to take with you, but it won’t necessarily contain as much as a large pack of sliced cake. For example, PLUS lists Peijnenburg plain sliced breakfast cake at 550 g alongside a 280 g pack of individual portions.

    Check the net weight and choose the type of pack that suits eating together or taking individual portions with you.

  • Assuming wholemeal or zero tells you everything about its nutritional value

    A variant name doesn’t tell you how much sugar and fibre the specific product contains. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that breakfast cake often contains a lot of sugar and few dietary fibres or other nutrients.

    Compare the nutritional information per 100 g and read the ingredients of the variants you’re considering.

  • Checking allergens only after opening the pack

    The Peijnenburg plain product examined contains rye and gluten-containing cereals. Another flavour or type of pack may have different ingredients and allergen information.

    Read the current label on the exact pack before sharing the breakfast cake with the group.

  • Relying on an old product image

    Ingredients and nutritional information can change. Albert Heijn also highlights this in its product information.

    Use online information to compare products, then check the label when you buy, especially if allergens affect your choice.

Brands to consider

These brands offer different types and variants of breakfast cake. Compare the specific pack rather than assuming that features of one variant apply to the whole brand.

Peijnenburg

PLUS lists options including plain breakfast cake in a large sliced pack and breakfast cake in individual portions.

  • You can compare a sharing pack with individual portions.
  • Check the ingredients and allergens for each variant; the 550 g plain variant contains rye.

Jumbo

Jumbo lists plain breakfast cake as its own-label option, including a 550 g pack.

  • The large pack is an option when several people will be eating from one pack.
  • Check the information for the own-label variant you’ve chosen; the name ‘plain’ doesn’t tell you what’s in other variants.

AH

Albert Heijn lists sliced zero and wholemeal variants under its AH own label.

  • The variants offer a choice of packaging and product descriptions.
  • A label such as zero or wholemeal is no substitute for checking the nutritional information and ingredients list.

Koek & Bakker

ALDI lists sliced wholemeal and zero breakfast cake from Koek & Bakker, both in 485 g packs.

  • The pre-sliced format is handy for handing out portions.
  • Check the nutritional information and allergens for the variant you’re taking with you.

Tastino

Lidl lists Tastino breakfast cake in options including plain, zero and wholemeal.

  • You can also check whether the cake is sliced when choosing.
  • Compare the ingredients and nutritional information on the exact pack; the variant name doesn’t give you the full picture.

Breakfast cake for sharing or individual portions

These Joybuy products suit two ways of handing out portions: slices from a larger pre-sliced pack or individually wrapped portions. For a group session, also check the total pack weight and the ingredients.

g'woon wholemeal breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g

g'woon wholemeal breakfast cake, sliced, 485 g

The pre-sliced format is ideal for a break where several people will be eating from the same pack.

This is a 485 g wholemeal variant. If sugars or fibre matter to your choice, compare the nutritional information on the pack.

Rye is listed among the ingredients. Before sharing, check the current ingredients and allergen information on the packaging.

View at Joybuy
Snelle Jelle breakfast cake, Less Sugar-Free variant, 250 g

Snelle Jelle breakfast cake, Less Sugar-Free variant, 250 g

The individually wrapped portions are handy for people taking a snack with them or wanting their own pack.

The pack contains 250 g in total, making it a smaller amount than the sliced pack above. Don’t judge the full nutritional value by the variant name; check the current label instead.

If you need to meet dietary requirements, check the packaging for rye, gluten, milk and nuts before handing out portions.

View at Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Does a wholemeal or zero variant tell you enough about breakfast cake as a study snack?

No. Assess the variant using the nutritional information and ingredients for the specific pack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre points out that breakfast cake often contains a lot of sugar and few dietary fibres or other nutrients; the variant name doesn’t give you the full picture.

How should I store a large pack of breakfast cake once it’s open?

Follow the storage instructions on the packaging. For the Peijnenburg breakfast cake examined, the product information recommends storing it in a cool, dry and dark place, preferably in a sealed tin or container.

Can I share regular breakfast cake with someone who needs to eat gluten-free?

Don’t assume it’s suitable: the Peijnenburg plain product examined contains rye and gluten-containing cereals. If gluten-free is essential, choose a product explicitly labelled gluten-free and check the current label on that pack.

Does baker’s salt mean that all breakfast cake contains iodine?

No. The Dutch definition of baker’s salt doesn’t mean that it’s used to make all breakfast cake. The Commodities Act Decree on the Addition of Micronutrients to Foods defines baker’s salt as iodised table salt for bread and other bakery products; check the ingredients on the specific pack to see what type of salt is listed.